Last Report: 10/08/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 420,695
Return Rate: 33.6%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 218,390 51.9 593,697 36.8
Republicans 72,776 17.3 235,474 30.9
Minor 1,384 0.3 6,336 21.8
No Party Affiliation 128,145 30.5 415,994 30.8
TOTAL 420,695 100.0 1,251,501 33.6
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 315,243 74.9
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 105,452 25.1
TOTAL 420,695 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 301,184 71.6 827,572 36.4
Non-Hispanic Black 66,635 15.8 221,074 30.1
Hispanic 7,732 1.8 31,348 24.7
Non-Hispanic Asian American 8,369 2.0 31,833 26.3
Non-Hispanic Native American 1,389 0.3 5,435 25.6
Other/Multiple/Unknown 35,384 8.4 134,239 26.4
TOTAL 420,695 100.0 1,251,501 33.6

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 21,956 5.2 112,098 19.6
26 to 40 51,971 12.4 226,707 22.9
41 to 65 142,855 34.0 459,830 31.1
66 and up 193,022 45.9 452,866 42.6
TOTAL 420,695 100.0 1,251,501 33.6

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 224,341 53.3 674,883 33.2
Male 174,230 41.4 486,959 35.8
Unknown 22,124 5.3 89,659 24.7
TOTAL 420,695 100.0 1,251,501 33.6

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 5,435
Rejection Rate: 1.3%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 3,361 61.8 221,751 1.5
Republicans 897 16.5 73,673 1.2
Minor 20 0.4 1,404 1.4
No Party Affiliation 1,157 21.3 129,302 0.9
TOTAL 5,435 100.0 426,130 1.3
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,321 42.7 303,505 0.8
Non-Hispanic Black 2,262 41.6 68,897 3.3
Hispanic 196 3.6 7,928 2.5
Non-Hispanic Asian American 138 2.5 8,507 1.6
Non-Hispanic Native American 38 0.7 1,427 2.7
Other/Multiple/Unknown 480 8.8 35,864 1.3
TOTAL 5,435 100.0 426,130 1.3
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,251,501
Request Rate: 17.5%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 358,223 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 593,697 47.4
Republicans 235,474 18.8
Minor 6,336 0.5
No Party Affiliation 415,994 33.2
TOTAL 1,251,501 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 827,572 66.1
Non-Hispanic Black 221,074 17.7
Hispanic 31,348 2.5
Non-Hispanic Asian American 31,833 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 5,435 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 134,239 10.7
TOTAL 1,251,501 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 112,098 9.0
26 to 40 226,707 18.1
41 to 65 459,830 36.7
66 and up 452,866 36.2
TOTAL 1,251,501 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 674,883 53.9
Male 486,959 38.9
Unknown 89,659 7.2
TOTAL 1,251,501 100.0